Forecast: Temperatures warming, snow moving out

Henderson County may see a few more flakes and flurries Thursday afternoon, but the storm system that dumped snow on the region is pulling out of the mountains and heading northeast.

By CAITLIN BYRDTimes-News Staff Writer

Henderson County may see a few more flakes and flurries Thursday afternoon, but the storm system that dumped snow on the region is pulling out of the mountains and heading northeast.“Henderson County won't get anything more today than maybe a flurry or a passing snow shower,” said Larry Lee, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “The moisture is pulling on out to the Northeast as the storm continues to deepen.”However, Western North Carolina remains under a winter weather warning until 6 p.m. tonight. The last 48 hours brought significant snowfall to the region, closing schools, government offices and local businesses. At 8 a.m., East Flat Rock and Laurel Park reported 11 inches and 10.1 inches of snow accumulation, respectively. Hendersonville received roughly 9 inches, though southern parts of the city saw a little more with 9.5 inches reported to the National Weather Service.The Asheville Airport reported 7.3 inches at 7:39 a.m. Though that was one of the more significant snowfalls reported this winter, it was not enough to put the snowstorm in the record books.Earlier this week, NWS meteorologist John Tomko said the airport needed to see 9.7 inches to be considered the 20th heaviest snowstorm on record since 1869.Though the system brought a large amount of snow to the region, Lee said two lucky things happened with this snowstorm: Almost no ice came with it, and it was not immediately followed by very cold air. Looking ahead to the rest of the week, temperatures should climb above freezing this afternoon before the mercury drops back down to the mid-20s tonight.“It will be fairly chilly tonight, with some freezing of some melted water possible,” Lee said. However, Lee said temperatures should reach the low to mid-40s on Friday, just in time for Valentine's Day.